Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 25 (5): 995-1000, 2017

ISSN 1990-9233
IDOSI Publications, 2017
DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2017.995.1000

Design and Implementation of IoT Based Waste Management System

J. Kokila, K. Gayathri Devi, M. Dhivya and C. Haritha Jose

Dr. N G P Institute of Technology, Coimbatore, India

Abstract: The Collection of waste is a very much needed municipal service that requires huge expenditures and
execution of this operation is high-priced. The high pricing is due to the various factors such as man power,
navigation of vehicles, fuel, maintenances and environmental costs. The above factor necessitates the design,
implementation and execution of the intelligent smart bin for proper management of waste. This paper focused
on the implementation of an IoT based embedded system which integrates Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID), Sensors, Arduino controller and GSM for solid waste bin and truck monitoring system with their
performance measured in real time environment. Web based android applications were developed to interface
with a web server to intimate the municipality regarding the cleaning process performed by the workers.
This system provides a database of the information of bin status, amount of waste in the bin, time of the
collection of waste are transmitted to monitor and efficiently manage the waste collection strategies. This data
was processed by graph theory optimization algorithms to find the shortest path for the purpose of reaching
the bin to reduce the cost.

Key words: Smart bin Microcontroller Sensors RFID GSM IoT

INTRODUCTION Reasons of Improper Management of Waste

Solid Waste Management (SWM) is one of the vital
indispensable services provided by municipal authorities
in the country to keep city clean. Nevertheless, the
services rendered are very poor as the executions of this
system are unscientific, old-fashioned and disorganized.
The quantity of waste is littered all over leading to
unhygienic living environment. The identification,
monitoring and disposal of wastes are one of the major
concerns of the present era.
The generation of waste is increasing by 1.3% per
annum. The urban population which is increasing
between 3 to 3.5% per annum generates waste around 5%
annually. Thus 42.0 million tons of municipal solid wastes
are produced annually; approximately 200 gm to 600 gm
are generated per day. The collection of solid waste by
the yardman varies from 50% to 90%. Urban Local Bodies
spend Rs.500/- to Rs.1500/- per ton on solid
waste management of which, 60 to 70% of the amount is
on collection alone and 20% to 30% on transportation.
The amount of fund that is spent on treatment and
disposal of waste is minimal and hence crude dumping of
this waste is practiced in most of the cities.
Inappropriate planning for the management of waste
while scheduling the townships
Lack of Integrated System for the efficient monitoring
and disposal of waste.
Lack of scientific and skilled manpower.
Involvement and awareness of the public towards
waste management is in a nominal level.
Lack in the use of modern techniques and best
practices
Outdated Management Information Systems
The factors stated above in the management of
waste collection necessitate the development of an
integrated system to reduce the operational and
environmental cost.
Related Works: In the traditional approach, a number of
trucks from the municipal authority are sent to the waste
bins to collect the Municipal waste (MW). The wastes are
loaded in the truck and then transported and transferred
to the pre-specified locality. However the group of the
people involved in collecting and transporting the wastes
are usually not responsible enough to make the job well

Corresponding Author: J. Ms. Kokila, PG Scholar, Dr. N G P Institute of Technology, Coimbatore, India.

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 Middle-East J. Sci. Res., 25 (5): 995-1000, 2017
done. Very often the wastes are not collected from each
and every waste bin properly due to drivers attitude and
lethargy [1].
An embedded system using sensors, ARM 7
controller and ZigBee technology for management of
garbage or solid waste was implemented [2]. The sensors
are placed in the garbage bins at the public places. When
the pre-defined level of the garbage in the smart bin is
reached, indication will be given by the controller to the
driver of waste collection truck. This system creates
immediate attention but did not focus on segregation of
waste.
The above stated disadvantages were overcome by
proposing an e-monitoring system that consists of
RFID technology interfaced with PIC micro-controller and
a web based computerized software [3]. This centralized
GUI tool can be accessed from anywhere for the
information to be viewed by different category of people.
This facility also helps the public to lodge their
complaints and comments. It has been explored in the
laboratory environment as well as in the field
environment. The test results show that the system
functions properly and is working real time. Municipality
can monitor the MW collecting status through the system
and can produce different reports to improve the
performance of their service.
To reduce the cost, integrated sensing system were
designed using rule based decision procedure that is
efficient and intelligent can be used to automate any solid
waste bin management and monitoring system [4].
Pavithra et al. [5] developed a system to intimate the
clearance of waste to the corporation office by
positioning the sensor and microcontroller in thetrash bin.
An alarm indication is also incorporated to confirm the
clearance of waste. This set up helps the municipality for
the immediate disposal of bin thus reducing the spread of
disease.
The researcher introduced additional sensors, IR
sensors, Humidity sensors and Toxic gas sensors to
measure the status of bin [6]. The processor transmit the
bin filling alert, Humidity alert and Toxic gas alert to the
Municipal Corporation via SMS intimation with the help
of GSM technology in order to reduce waste dumping.
Further modifications were also performed in the category
of processing and recycling of the waste. The separations
of five types of plastic resinsusing NIR spectroscopy to
produce biogas from the rest of biodegradable waste were
introduced. The NIR reflectance spectroscopy scheme
helps to distinguish and eliminate plastic item from MSW
and provides all biodegradable substance that can be
further used in biogas plant [7].
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Implementation of the above smart bin can prevent
lumping of the trash for a longer period of time thereby
preventing the widespread of diseases to a great extent
and promising a clean environment in the city [8].There is
a decrease in the environmental and operational cost as a
result of optimization of the resources and an effective
usage of smart dustbins. It has indirectly reduced the
traffic in city. In major cities the waste gathering vehicle
visit the areas everyday twice or thrice depends on the
population of the particular area and sometimes these
dustbins may not be full. Informing the status of each and
every dust bin in real time to the concerned authority can
send the garbage collection vehicle only when the
dustbin is full [9].
This work has focused on the implementation of
smart waste management system using sensors, Arduino
and GSM technology integrated with IoT. The status of
the bin is continuously monitored at the control station to
provide a user interaction with the system. The values
stored in the database helps a user to have the updated
status of the data in the bin as well as the previous values
of the parameters of the bin. This collected data from the
bin can be used in the optimization of routes for the
collection trucks for efficient use of resources in the waste
management system [10].
System Implementation: The proposed architecture of
IoT based wastemanagement system shown in Fig. 1 is
categorized into three modules.
Smart Control and lid Sensing System Ultrasonic
Sensor, PIR Sensor, Servomotor, RFID Reader
Transceiver Unit GSM, Wi-Fi, ThingSpeak
Smart Display Unit - LCD, Database, Monitor Section
The Fig. 2 shows the process flow of the implemented
system. A PIR sensor is a motion detector sensor which
detects the heat emitted naturally by human. Whenever a
person is in the field of vision nearer to the garbage bin,
the sensor is triggered and the servo motor automatically
opens the smart bin for the disposal of waste. Lid Sensing
system detects the overflow status of the garbage level in
the dustbin using ultrasonic sensor. This Smart Trash Bin
is interfaced with Arduino and whenever the lid sensing
system is activated, a signal is transmitted through the
GSM module to the server in the municipal office. After
the disposal of waste, the above process is confirmed by
the yardman using RFID Tag. RFID reader reads the tag
and sends the status of cleaning to the server confirming
the work done. The LCD screen is used to demonstration
the status garbage collected in the bins. Wi-Fi module
helps us to send the details of the smart bin at the receiver
 Middle-East J. Sci. Res., 25 (5): 995-1000, 2017

Fig. 1: Architecture of IoT Based Waste Management System

Smart BIN

Activation of Smart
Control and Lid sensing
System

RFID Tag with the

Yardman
Garbage Level PIR detection level
Status to Arduino Status to Arduino

Emptying the
Garbage to the
Garbage Level Read the Truck
>15 cm PIRSensor

No RFID reader Senses

0 the Tag
Yes 1

Garbage Full Activate the Servo

Motor and Open the
LID

Status Signal Sent

Via GSM

WI-FI module

Thing Speak Server

Bin Status Display

Fig. 2: Process Flow of the Implemented System

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 Middle-East J. Sci. Res., 25 (5): 995-1000, 2017
side. The graph theory optimization process is applied
when considering the placement of multiple bins at
different points in order to reduce the operational cost.
Smart Control and Lid Sensing System
Ultrasonic Sensor: The ultrasonic Sensor HC-SR04 is
used to measure the level of garbage in waste bin. The
range of the garbage measurement varies from 2cm
400cm without non-contact. The module provides
ultrasonic transmitters, receiver and control circuit.The
length of theimplemented garbage bin is 20cm. A
predefined threshold level is fixed at 15cm and
programmed in the Arduino to predict the overflow status
of the bin. The conditions for the activation of the lid
based on the output of Ultrasonic sensor is listed below
The garbage level in the bin is less than 15cm -
Garbage Empty
The garbage level in the bin is greater than 15cm -
Garbage Full.
PIR Sensor and Servo Motor: HC-SR501 is a motion
detector sensor which detects the heat emitted naturally
by human. Whenever a person is in the field of vision
nearer to the garbage bin, the sensor is triggered. SG-
90MINI,a position controlled servomotoris programmed
for theautomatic opening of the waste bin for the disposal
of waste. It can easily control physical movement of
objects due to its position controlled feature. Servo motor
rotates in angle ranging from 0 to 180 degree and has
many applications in robotics and industry for position
based motion control system. Unlike other motors, servo
motor is very easy to interface with Arduino or any other
microcontroller due to its built-in controllers. The
conditions programmed in Arduino board for the rotation
of servo motor based on the output of PIR sensor is listed
below.
When the Output level of PIR sensor is equal to high
- Motion detected, the servomotor rotates clockwise
in an angle from 0 to 180 and automaticallyopens
the waste bin. For closing the bin there will be an
anti-clockwise rotation from 1800 to 0.
When the Output level of PIR sensor is equal to low -
Motion not detected.
RFID Detection: EM-18 RFID reader is a device that will
read data on tags and communicate to a computer system
without any physical association. The RFID tag
comprises of three parts: an antenna, a semiconductor
chip attached to the antenna with encapsulation. The tag
reader is liable for powering and sharing with a tag. The
tag antenna captures energy and transfers the tags ID.
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Transceiver Unit
WIFI Module: The ESP8266 is a self-contained Single on
Chip Wi-Fi Module with incorporated TCP/IP protocol
stack that can provide microcontroller access to your Wi-
Fi network. This component is comprised of 32 bit
microcontrollerassociated with devices like ADC, UART,
PLL and memories. It encompasses a self-calibrated RF
permitting it to work under all working conditions and
requires no external RF parts. The applications of ESP8266
are Smart power plugs, Home automation, Wi-Fi location-
aware devices, Industrial wireless control and Security ID
tags. Wi-Fi helps us to send details of smartbin at the
receiver side.
Mart Display Unit
Monitoring System: ThingSpeak is IoT platform in which
the user must create the channels by giving all the
credential required, once the channel is created nearly 8
sensor values can be feed to the thingspeak channel and
the data in channel can be accessed by anywhere in the
world.The Smart control and Lid sensing system
connected to Arduino and GSM will feed the sensed data
to IoT -ThingSpeak applicationover the Internet. In the
proposed system, ultrasonic sensor data are feed to the
thingspeak channel.
The Fig. 3 (a) and Fig. 3 (b) shows the result of
garbage monitoring system measured in real time
environment. The sensed data from the ultrasonic sensor
will be stored in the channel.The collected data of the
different garbage level measured from 12.59 pm till 17.00
pm are represented in the form of a graph for monitoring
purpose. In addition to the above, the location can also be
viewed as shown in the Fig. 3(c) at Dr.G P Institute of
Technology, Coimbatore, India. This test run were
implemented at different places in diverse times with
different level of garbage.
Graph Theory Optimization Algorithm: Optimization
algorithms are applied to find the shortest distance
between two points in the area for the yardman to follow
for cleaning the smart bin. The routes are optimized to
minimize driving time based on historical data or traffic
blocking. This data processed by graph theory
optimization algorithms can be used to dynamically and
efficiently manage waste collection strategies. The
following steps are used in a graph theory algorithm,
Location of data collection
Graph modelling for plotting data
Graph Bi-Partioning for possible routes
Applying algorithm on datasets
Suitable path will be chosen for cleaning the
smartbin.
 Middle-East J. Sci. Res., 25 (5): 995-1000, 2017

Fig. 3(a): Result of the Garbage Monitoring System Fig. 3(b): Result of the Garbage Monitoring
implemented in real time System implemented in real time

Fig. 3(c): Location of Smart Bin

Fig. 4: Smart Bin for IoT Based waste management system

Table 1: Experimental data From Testing of the Prototype

S.No Output of the Ultrasonic Sensor Time Status of the PIR Sensor Servo Motor Rotation Action
1. 0cm 12.58pm NO Anti-Clockwise Bin is unloading
2. 4cm 12.59pm YES Clockwise Bin is loading
3. 5cm 13.00pm YES Clockwise Bin is loading
4. 5.5cm 14.00pm YES Clockwise Bin is loading
5. 6cm 16.00pm YES Clockwise Bin is loading
6. 7cm 17.00pm YES Clockwise Bin is loading

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The combinedresults of the prototype developed are
shown as five fields in Table 1. The first two fields in the
table corresponds to the output of ultrasonic sensor
measured at various times. The third fieldshows the status
of the PIR sensor.Theservo motor will respond based on
the third field, it may rotate either in clockwise direction
for opening the bin and anticlockwise for closing the bin.
The final action that will take place is shown as the fifth
field. The Fig. 4 shows the location of various sensors
positioned in the Smartbinfor web based waste
management System.
CONCLUSION
The necessity for the web based waste management
application is increasing day by day due to the population
and less maintenance in the disposal of waste.The
novelty of this proposed work is to develop an intelligent
alerting systemintegrated with RFID and IoT for proper
management of garbage. A municipal authority can use
this type of system to monitor the waste collection status
in real time environment and measure the performance of
yardman, thereby reducing the manual process of
monitoring and verification.
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